The No-Sew Way To Recover An Ottoman

The subtitle to this post should be “The Laziness Edition”. Because despite the fact that I sweated and groaned throughout this ottoman reulphostering, I did not have to break out my sewing machine. And that spared me at least a few hours of stitch-ripping and self-deprecating narrative.

I used my good friends, Staple Gun and Elbow Grease. And I think the final product is pretty darn snazzy.

The “before” picture of this ottoman ain’t pretty. It was purchased about seven years ago from a fairly decent furniture store. This means that we paid far more for it than we would now – mostly because we have children. When we bought this piece, we were ensured by the staff that it was genuine leather.

Genuine BONDED leather. Sigh.

The leather peeled up from its backing in a horrendously ugly fashion. It looked like my ottoman had a very contagious and incurable skin disease. (Quick Suburble tip here: we’re pretty sure that it was the use of baby wipes on the surface that destroyed the leather. Don’t wipe things off of your leather surfaces with baby wipes. Heed my warning!)

Mr. Suburble could barely stand the sight of our peeling and horrifying ottoman – and this became especially apparent when we had guests over. “Can’t we just get rid of it? Can you go out and buy a new one…. like… before dinner tonight?”

No! I can’t! My inner hoarder won’t let me throw away an ottoman that we paid hundreds upon hundreds of dollars for. The frame was sturdy, the closing mechanism still working – it was storage, for pete’s sake! In a house with no storage!

So I decided to save my ottoman. I was going to make him beautiful.

I gathered my tools. Using pliers and a flat-headed screwdriver, I plucked out all of the staples from the lining of the ottoman. It was perfectly good – no reason not to save it.

Lazy Ottoman Recovering Tip #1: If there is hardware attached to the lining, do not remove it.

Instead, leave it as a guide for re-attaching the lining later. Just remove the staples that are at the edges of the lining, and then move it to the side (or gather it in the middle of the frame) when you attach the new fabric.

On the bottom of the ottoman, there were two staples that attached the liner to the middle of the box. I left those attached as well, so that I didn’t have to guess where the liner should be placed over the new fabric. Instead, I just bundled it up in the middle of the box and got to work on the leather.

Using my handy-dandy scary-sharp box cutter, I cut off all of the leather from the ottoman. It was very daunting making the first cut. There was no going back now.

This was the part where I started to panic a bit. And I also regretted doing this by myself in the middle of the day with only my children as my encouragement. They mostly tried to play dolls within a three foot radius of me, or they asked incessant questions, “Why are you cutting the ottoman, mommy?” “Ohh… are you doing to tell Daddy that you did that?” “That’s really ugly NOW…”

Remember how I mentioned that I have children and that their baby wipes managed to destroy my ottoman? And did you know that overall, children are pretty messy – quite possibly the slobbiest of all – humans? Well yeah… I must have had some sort of failure in common sense when I was standing in the aisles of fabric in Joann (with my children running around me like wild jungle cats, I’ll have you know) – because I grabbed a bolt of cream coloured fabric and confidently headed to the cutting table.

Screw it. I like this fabric. I can’t deny myself this simply because I procreated.

Stupidity: I have it sometimes.

Anyways… I saved the foam from the frame of my ottoman so I just had to stretch the fabric over the lid and body and staple it down. Using a fabric with a pattern was helpful in this case, as I could use it as a guideline for stretching and stapling.

Lazy Ottoman Recovering Tip #2: Don’t sew the seams.

The original leather on the ottoman was stitched on the corners. And that looked nice. But it didn’t look easy – and this mama likes the easy way to do stuff.

So, I created my “no-sew ulphostery corner”. I cut the fabric into lengths that were about six inches longer than the fabric frame. Then, I folded the fabric onto itself and stapled it into the frame. Honestly, it took about a minute to do, and the end product looks pretty tidy! I deftly avoided a “sobbing over the sewing machine” moment!

Lazy Ottoman Recovering Tip #3: Use the holes in the liner as your guide.

Once the fabric had been stapled to the frame, I then un-crumpled the liner (which was still attached to the frame in its center) and aligned it to where it should be. This was VERY helpful, as the liner already had holes for the ottoman legs, hinges, and closing mechanism for the lid. My new fabric didn’t do a good job of showing where those holes were (of course, as it covered all of the pre-drilled holes), so the liner was my guideline. I simply had to screw everything back into where the liner told me to, and it was a cinch!

(Granted, by now I was a sweating mess – having wrestled fabric over a hulking ottoman while two children practically pressed their faces against mine: “What are you doing, Mommy? Why? Whyyyyy…..?”)

The liner also helps to make the upholstering job look more professional. It adds a finished look to the piece.

(Do you see the legs of a LaLaLoopsy in this picture? Look closely… CinderSlippers’ glass shoe is hiding somewhere! Told you they were playing dolls practically on top of my project.)

In its completed glory: my gorgeous cream-coloured fabric ottoman. No longer contagious with some sort of rashy leather-virus.

I think that it looks quite nice – and the lighter colour really does brighten up the room. I have always gravitated towards darker, autumn colours, but suddenly, I’m loving my flashy little ottoman and its “look at me” fabric!

And for you parents who are tsk-tsking me and saying, “Lady, you are going to regret that fabric when some sticky-handed monster leaves marks all over that ottoman. You will cry. Like… ugly cry…”, I say, Yeah. I will probably be disappointed. But, I bought the fabric on super-duper sale (in total, I paid $34 for all of the fabric), and I’ve learned how to reupholster this ottoman in a no-sew lazy way. If it’s destroyed, I can fix it. If I hate the colour one day, I can change it.

And when we have play dates at our house, I put a towel over it. I’m not kidding. I don’t take unnecessary risks.

If there is an ottoman who has been aching for a bit of a makeover in your house, I encourage you to try my Lazy Reulpholstering trick. If I can do it with two preschoolers as “helpers”, then you can most definitely do it!

WelcomeI'm Tara. This is a space for me to share my "makes" as well as my messes. I love beautiful things, funny people, and a good cup of tea. If I can drag my children into my creative ventures, I will. If they haven't inherited craftiness, they'll learn it!

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127 comments

July 31, 2013

Lauren @ The Thinking Closet

Wow, Tara! You are amazing. Upholstering really intimidates me, but you break it down in such a way that even I feel like I could tackle this. And I think it’s great that you chose a fabric you really loved…despite the fact it might get dirty. That’s what spot cleaner is for…AND like you said, you’re a pro at this method now, so you can always change it up down the road. Well done, girl.Lauren @ The Thinking Closet recently posted…My New MOO Business Cards & Giveaway for 3!

Tara

Thank you so much, Lauren! I need more people to tell me that the colour is worth the occasional “covering-up with a towel” move. Most moms are pretty understanding, I have to say. Nobody wants to be responsible for me ripping off all of this fabric and starting again! (Though I will… It’s not as hard as I thought it was going to be!)

Tara

Anne@DesignDreams

Apparently not. I personally haven’t tried painting upholstered furniture but so many bloggers have and say it just feels a little more stiff than the original fabric. Can’t see why it would crack. Then again, it’s such a small piece that if the painting doesn’t work, then you do the reupholstering! Easy peasy – well sort of… 🙂Anne@DesignDreams recently posted…The Shabby Chic Lamp

Tara

Amy of while wearing heels

Tara you make me laugh. I love that you’ll throw a towel over your ottoman during play dates :). That fabric is GORGEOUS. Stunning. Amazing transformation. Love it!Amy of while wearing heels recently posted…Summer Showcase of Homes Recap

Tara

I totally throw a towel over it during play dates. It has a towel on it right now. I know… it’s crazy. But I love the fabric, too. I just wanted it, so I bought it (in a fit of “Let’s pretend that we don’t have children!”). I even had my children in tow with me when I bought it…

Mel

Tara

That’s what I say – I can always just re-do it. And if I chose every piece of furniture according to the potential of destruction that my kids could inflict on it, then I’d end up with plastic couches. 😉

Danni@SiloHillFarm

Denial due to procreation…..LMBO!!! Glad you didn’t deny yourself that fabric because it is gorgeous! Nice job and no sew is always my first option!Danni@SiloHillFarm recently posted…STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING

Kenz @ Interiors by Kenz

It looks SO good. But here’s the main reason I know we are friends: that fabric. We have the same tastes. That is the EXACT upholstery I used when I did my Lack-Hack ottomans. 🙂 And we’re both inner hoarders.Kenz @ Interiors by Kenz recently posted…Drywall Halfwall Happy

Brandy @ The Prudent Homemaker

Tara

They’re incessant, all right, especially if I’m doing something as interesting as sweating all over an ottoman. I’m so glad to gain you as a reader! I’ll definitely return the favour and visit your space in the interwebs! 🙂

Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell

oh my goodness! it’s 1000 times better! Amazing. Just goes to show you that it’s the bones that matter…everything else can be fixed. And I love that you went with the fabric you love….messy hands be gone!Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell recently posted…The Week’s End – August 4, 2013

Tara

Isn’t it almost unrecognizable? It’s amazing what a bit of fabric can do!

I am really happy that I went with fabric that I love. Of course, I have moments of dread when the kids have dirty hands or when we’re eating a messy appy in the living room. But the thing is, I don’t want to live in a land of plastic and berber carpet all of the time… It’s so hard to strike the balance!

Kelly @ A Swell Place to Dwell

ChiWei

I admit, that was my first reaction – uhoh white? But whatever, I have a white sofa, so yeah, I’m not one to talk. I do put blankets over it and I’m too lazy to pin it down. I use blankets and an old sheet because we never have guests anyways :-). Your project looks super professional! Use the towels but definitely show it off when people come over!

Tara

You have a white sofa!?!? Love it.

I do make use of the towel-trick – that’s for sure. I think that the biggest challenge was re-training the girls not to use the ottoman as a snack table of sorts. Because it was originally a giant hunk of junk, I didn’t care. Now that it’s cream and beautiful, I had to spend at least a week hollering, “Don’t touch the ottoman!” while they stared at me, shocked.

It is nice to “unveil” it when guests come over, though. I feel like I have a grown-up space. It’s awesome (and weird).

Marilyn

Tara

Shauna @ Satori Design for Living

Love the new fabric choice! We have a similar ottoman that I’ve wanted to cover for some time. It has held up well, but I’m tired of the chocolate brown (I think ours actually is leather though). Now I just need to find the perfect fabric.Shauna @ Satori Design for Living recently posted…I Heart Kate Spade + Things We Love Giveaway

Tara

I’m glad that yours has held up well! I was appalled at how quickly our ottoman disintegrated before our eyes! I agree – the fabric choice was a tough one. I considered a bold print, but the ottoman is pretty big – I didn’t know exactly how it would look. Plus, having my children by my side in the fabric store rushed everything. Hence – cream coloured fabric! 🙂

Terri

Tara

Terri – But you are! You just don’t know it yet.

When I started taking apart this ottoman, I was sweating bullets. Partly because I was wrestling a giant wood box around the living room, and also partly because I had no idea what I was doing. I think that creativity lurks inside of all of us. You’d be surprised what you could create if you started a project! 🙂

Tara

Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life…

I can’t even count how many pieces we have recovered for ourselves and others over the years… I love that feeling you get when you give a tired piece new life!! Bravo!Cynthia @ A Button Tufted Life… recently posted…Paint Chip Hoarding… The Silent Addiction!

Tara

Sheila @sZinteriors

WOW! I love what you’ve done with your ottoman. The fabric is FAB, and I’m so with you – it’s easy to cover up when necessary. That’s not such a tough thing to do. But to opt out on great fabric, or live with the peeling ‘leather’ is like living in a constant state of half in, half out – kind of like leaving the plastic wrap on lamp shades. Why do that? Good for you!!!

Tara

Dani @ lifeovereasy

Wow – it looks great! And I love the attitude about the colour of the fabric. You can’t always worry about child-proofing – sometimes you just have to go for it!Dani @ lifeovereasy recently posted…20/20 At Anthro

Tara

You’re so right, Dani! You can’t always get hung up on the child-proofing part of your life (especially when it’s just fabric, it’s not tumbling down two flights of stairs or something). Sometimes I shake my head at myself though – there are many other things – dents in walls, knicks in my table legs, stains on clothes and accent pillows – that have been collateral damage to the Child Raising Experiment in our house. I circle over my ottoman like a hawk these days! 😉

Mary

Someone else probably said this but if that gorgeous ottoman was in my house with kids, I’d head back to the fabric store for some muslin (or to the hardware store for a new canvas drop cloth) and cut a generous rectangle to plop over. I might even sew a simple slipcover for it.

It can easily be taken off and stored inside for grownup nights.

I think it’s great you chose the color you love. The kids can learn to be neater (and they will). Meanwhile the worst that can happen, is that you’ll recover it again some time in the future.

Tara

That’s a great idea, Mary. Right now, my ottoman is wearing a big gray beach towel. I can’t take risks with sticky fingers. I like the idea of a muslin covering, though. That might be a teensy bit more attractive than a terry cloth towel!

You’re so right – I will inevitably recover it again, but I’m glad that I stayed true to my taste and picked the lighter fabric. It was a risk, but it was worth it!

Dineen

Your first re-upholstery job looks great. You were so smart to keep the lining. That’s something that I would have thrown away and then decided to pull out of the trash after realizing my mistake. The cream color fabric looks great in your room. Scotchguard fabric protector can go a long way to keep it looking nice. (Even from grown-up wear and tear.)

Tara

I’ve definitely been considering Scotchguard (though we did have a little “salsa incident” – by a grown-up, no less – that cleaned up well on the fabric! Thank goodness!) – as it’s inevitable that someone will get something on it.

I’m glad that I left the lining on – it made my project that much easier. And yes, I had a moment of, “Should I just chuck this?”

It was just dumb luck that I realized at that moment that I could use it as a template for all of the legs/hinges, etc!

Cassandra Donges

Tara

Cassandra – I used 3 yards of fabric. My ottoman is a larger one, about 4 feet long. I’d say err on the side of caution and more rather than less. (If you have leftovers, you can always make a couple of coordinating accent pillows!)

Erin

Thank you so much for this post. I stumbled upon it with a Google search and it was exactly what I was looking for. We used your instructions and recovered our ottoman. It looks amazing. We also replaced the wooden block legs with casters. Now it is so easy to move around to vacuum!

Tara

Erin – thank YOU for leaving a comment and sharing your success story! Do you have any pictures? I’d love to see them.

Casters are a brilliant idea! I know that I’m constantly dragging my ottoman around to vacuum – or let’s face it, sometimes I just shrug and say, “Welll… looks like that part isn’t seeing a vacuum today!”

Sara

Thanks from me too. I successfully covered my ottoman yesterday based on your instructions, and am so pleased with the result. The only extra tip I used (from my Mum who knows about these things) was to put a cover of calico under the fabric to give it a firmer base. It worked really well, especially when going from leather to fabric.

HarLee Jaye

I had an ottoman that did the exact same thing…never used a wipe on it. If it was the wipes they’d do similar to baby bums. I’d spray it with a few coats of ScotchGuard, too, then NOT worry. A home where kids can’t be kids is just a house. For those who think Upholstery is difficult, it isn’t…IF U can wrap decent Christmas or birthday presents, U absolutely CAN upholster! A trick I’ve learned, in the land of smart phones, is take step-by-step pix as U break pieces down, so you can see them, in reverse, IF U need to when putting back together. Now U have me wanting to upholster something…LOL! Nice job.

HarLee Jenkins

Thanks much! If in doubt, find a free/cheap ottoman somewhere and go buy some fabric @ a big box store, 99cents/yd and ” go for it” as practice. We learn from doing. I probably wouldn’t choose a complicated sofa with huge pillows as my first, but it really is like wrapping presents. There are different type corners for different pieces. Who knows, you might just design a new upholstery “style”…and become famous/rich!

Tara

HarLee – I need to keep you around – you’re full of fabulous ideas! I love the idea of practicing upholstery on cheap/thrifted pieces. And if I can design a new style and become rich and famous, well then… I’ll take it!

MCN

Hi Tara! Thank you for the tip! I will be trying this on two mini-ottomans this weekend with my 2 year old and 11 month old as my “helpers”. I will probably have wine chilling for afterwards, just in case! This is so easy to follow and I am super excited to try it!

Bernadette

This is super great!! I have a storage ottoman as well. While there is nothing wrong with the fabric, the color totally does not go with everything else. I also have young children. I also will be using a cream color!!!

Thanks for this DIY. I will do it myself 😀 (especially after I was quoted $450 to have it reupholstered professionally!)

Tara

Go for it, Bernadette!

I got brave and took the towels off of the ottoman, and you know what?!? It actually cleans up really well! (And the most glops and gloops of stuff that have fallen onto it have been from men, not children – go figure!)

Let me know if you need any help. I’d love to see the finished project!

And that cream fabric is still at Joann right now (if that’s the look you want). Such a great price! (And $450 for new upholstery?!?!? Gah!)

Tara

lovelyduckie

We also fell prey to accidentally buying bonded leather, it was our first couch (reclining too). We ended up just sending it to the dump after a few years, it was SO AWFUL that no one would even take it for free on Craigslist. I wasn’t ambitious enough to challenge re-upholstering it, especially since the mechanics of it were never quite right and it didn’t fit the space. Well lets just say we learned a valuable lesson…enough on that 🙂

We bought a nice little faux leather ottoman (ironically much sturdier than bonded leather) but when my 2nd dog was a puppy he chewed it up at the corners, I did a half decent patch job with some fabric I found and he chewed it again. I’m going to be doing exactly what you did with my ottoman as well. My material choice is brown denim, I’m hoping the denim will easily stretch over the foam. I’m going dark because my couch is a bright green (sivik green from ikea) and I recently bought a bright blue rug to go with it. I’m going to use the ottoman to better pull in the dark brown side tables and curtains.

Candice

Just a thought. Have you thought about using Velcro instead of staples for the same effect but make more than one cover and that way you can always have one in the wash and one on the ottoman so it’s easy clean when grubby little hands touch it or something spills on it. If you had cover slips you could have different colors to suit your mood fabrics even leather or vinyl if you want it spill resistant for a purpose. Wouldn’t have to worry about stains or rips. Just put on a different slip.

Cynthia

Love the ottoman! Found your blog while I was researching how to do an easy upholstering job on a crazy DIY project I’ve got going on — taking 3 milk crates, padding, plywood, six furniture legs and fabric and making a 3 compartment covered laundry bench for the end of my bed.

My question is a dumb one: can you detail how you did those corners for a doofus? I get the fold, but did you staple it to the top and bottom of the ottoman?

And I’m wondering if hot glue will work because I’m not sure how well staples will do in plastic.

Tara

Cynthia, I don’t think you sound like a doofus at all! You sound like a genius!

Yes, I stapled inside of the ottoman (it’s a storage ottoman) and on its bottom. Are you trying to do the same thing – have a top that opens and you can see your three milk crates inside? I might suggest putting wood in the corners of your crates (even 2X2 pieces?) and zap-strapping them in place? These are the plastic milk crates, right? You could feed the zap-straps (or zip ties, I think they’re also called?) through the holes in the carton and secure the wood. Then, staple the fabric to your wooden corners!

If that’s not going to work, you can always send pictures of what you’re working with. I love brainstorming! 🙂

Cynthia

Brandi Marie

Oh thank goodness!
I just moved into my first apartment and 98% of all my stuff is hand-me-downs including my beloved love seat with matching ottoman… that I need to reupholster. I bought a cover from Target for the love seat but I’m staring at this gosh awful ottoman seriously thinking of throwing it off my balcony… neighbors probably won’t appreciate it but BAM… here is your blog post to save the day!
*cracks knuckles and then neck*
I can do this! I just have to get some cut fabric… and I can do this!

Julie @White Lights on Wednesday

This.is.AWESOME! Our ottoman/shoe catcher has a hole in the leather and it’s peeling. It’s becoming an eyesore, and I don’t want to give it up. It needs a new hinge too. 🙁 I’m so inspired to recover that bad boy and keep it forever!Julie @White Lights on Wednesday recently posted…Steakhouse Potato, Sausage & Goat Cheese Skillet

Tara

Samantha

Thank you so much for your tutorial! My ottoman was too large to feasibly purchase a slipcover and was looking horrendous! I took your advice and it looks great! If only I could figure out how to post a picture. Thanks for your blog!

Nancy

I know this is an older post, but I love what you did. I’m getting ready to do the same thing to a backless loveseat covered in bonded leather. Let me tell you, if your kids won’t destroy your bonded leather, your cats WILL. Even though we have plenty of scratching posts in the house, this little loveseat is where my cat does ALL her scratching. It looks so horrible, my husband wants to get rid of it or at least hide it in the garage. But it’s otherwise sturdy and a nice piece and I have just the fabric to use. I am inspired by your project and hope to start mine this weekend.

Audrey DeJongh

Its such a wonderful project, looks stunning. You have inspired me, to fetch my ottoman from the garage, yes 10 years been sitting with old stained and now torn cover, had no idea where to start ottoman. It has quite nice curled legs in wood, so tried to figure out how to get the top layer and piping off, before adding the new fabric. Thanks for this. I WANT TO ASK – What did your huwband say of your creation.

debbi s.

I love that fabric. A spray over with Scotchguard Fabric Protector should help with grimy fingers and occasional spills, too. A little nailhead trim at the top edge would amp up the zing, too. Very nice work.

Tara

Daniella

Hello Tara
Great article! Have just put my leather one on Ebay and am now considering whipping it off and giving this a try instead. Do you think I could be even more lazy and just leave the leather on and place the fabric over it? Thanks Daniella

Tara

Alicia

I am recovering my upholstered ottoman, (my cat thought it was a great place to sharpen her claws over the years..) The issue I’m running into with no-sew is the inside, there is a liner, which is also sewn to the exterior fabric. What did you do with the inside, hopefully you have pics somewhere or some easy to follow advice, I love the no-sew option, as I hand sew everything, I have no sewing machine skills!

Tara

Oh, Alicia – I’m sorry I missed this. I’m wondering if you could cut the liner where it meets the upholstery fabric, and then staple it down into the interior of the ottoman? You could fold the fabric over to get a nice “hem” and then staple it down on top of the liner? Does that make sense? Let me know if you want to brainstorm.

Lin

I enjoyed reading your lazy guide to reupholstering. Especially your no sew approach. It made me laugh a couple of times.
I was searching for guides as I have THE most comfortable armchair that swivels and leans back…and its an ugly brown. I will not part with this chair as I spent countless comfortable hours in it nursing my baby. I am determined to make it a pretty color. I’m considering using a cotton sheet set or a cotton blanket as my fabric. Either a cover or actual upholster. Hmm..
Anyway thanks a bunch for the fun and funny read with great pictures!

Emily

I love this idea! I am going to try it. i’m a little confused on how to do the bottom part. did you wrap the whole bottom like you did the top part and just fold the fabric in the inside to staple? or just wrap the fabric around like a skirt type thing then staple both inside the top and along the bottom? or use two pieces of fabric, one for the horizontal pieces and one for the vertical? (I’m thinking this is what you did when you mentioned 6 extra inches ) hope this makes sense to you.i am not very crafty but my “leather” ottoman lost its battle with our puppy and i hate to throw it out so this is motivating me to attempt it.

Tara

Oh shoot. I think I just replied to this, but maybe the internet ate it up?

I wrapped it around the base like a skirt, as you said, but in four separate pieces (one for each side). And then because each piece was a bit too long, on purpose, I folded it in on itself in order to be a neat little corner.

Does that make sense? Let me know if it doesn’t and I can help! I’d love to see your “after” photo!

RJ

Thank you so very much for sharing your “No Sew Repair” experience. A dear, dear friend, gave me a small, foot, ottoman, with the hinged lid for storage. I love it. But the fabric is absolutely “yucky” as my granddaughter would say. I am currently searching for fabric that has book quotes, words from literature, etc. Thus far I have found the whole ottoman, but not “replacement” fabric So, the search continues. My grandaughter is super excited about “our new project.” Secretly so am I, but for different reasons. 🙂

Again, Thank You for sharing – you did a great job and I love your choice of fabric. And if the day comes this ottoman no longer suits your fancy…for less than fourty dollars you can change it to something that does!

Tara

Joan

Hi, love what you have done , it looks fabulous! I have a very badly stained pillow top ottoman, it’s cream, but I am very bored with the colour, I would love to try the no sewing idea but it doesn’t lift off like yours does, any ideas how I could tackle it? Thanks, Joan

Tara

Jamie

I know this is a VERY old post ! But I am ready to embark on this very same project! Bonded Leather!! Ugh!. How did you get the top off!? My hinges seem to be somehow attached to the top! Any suggestions or advice would be soooo apprieciate!

Katie

Tara

Kali

Hello Tara,
I feel inspired by your post on redoing my ottoman (which looked just like yours after I had my son). I’m curious as to what were the dimensions of your ottoman and how much fabric did you purchase? Also, how did you determine how much fabric to purchase? I’m new at this and I think I figured it out, but I need validation. 🙂

My ottoman is 46″-47″ long & 29″-30″ wide. I’m looking to purchase a fabric that is 55″ wide. I was thinking about purchasing 5 yards in total; for the sides I was thinking of cutting the fabric in half to cover the bottom part of the ottoman (my ottoman is pretty similar to yours). What do you think?